Itís
a little difficult to put ourselves into the scene of todayís Gospel. Jesus
as attending a dinner at the house of a certain Simon who was a Pharisee.
It was obviously a major feast, guests reclining on couches around a group
of tables, folks wandering in from the roads to watch what was going on Ė a
gathering of celebrity watchers. Many wanted to get a quick look at the
legendary rabbi from Nazareth.

They were shocked to see a woman washing his
feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and bathing his feet with
oil. While such things were done sometimes for distinguished celebrities, they were not done in the houses of rich Pharisees. Why did Jesus put up
with such adoration. It is remarkable that the incident was remembered as
vividly as it was because Jesus' followers were certainly embarrassed by it
as some of them would be even today.

Why didnít he just chase them away?

Fr. Greeley's Last Book:

Story:

Once upon
a time a certain well known priest was seen coming out of a disorderly house
in his parish. A photographer got a picture of him. A newspaper printed it.
A group of Catholic laity put together a petition to the bishop to remove
him as pastor. No priest should be seen emerging from such a place. The
priest was summoned downtown. The bishop, the chancellor and the vicar
general sat behind the bishopís desk, staring at him implacably. They didnít
much like him because he was a bit of a trouble maker. They were delighted
to have something with which to slap him down. They didnít ask him to
sit down.

Youíve seen this picture, Father. Once or twice. What is that
building from which you are exiting? It is a house of ill repute, he replied
with a smile. What were you doing there? Visiting some of my parishioners.
At 11:00 at night? Thatís when they called me. And you felt obliged to visit
them at that hour? At any hour of night someone in the parish calls, I
respond. You were giving spiritual solace to those unfortunate women? No
bishop. What were you doing?

Administering the last sacraments of the
Church. I said the funeral mass for her the next day and went to the
graveside. Any objection. There wasnít any. Well said the youngest of the
troika, we must be careful of giving bad example.

And Jesus said once that
those who have been forgiven much love much. They didnít say anything at all
after that.

2 O LORD my God, I cried to you
for help, and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and
give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
10 Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD,
be my helper!"
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my
sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD
my God, I will give thanks to you for ever.

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